Media

David Beckham on Cold Pizza

David Beckham on Good Morning America

David Beckham Press Conference part 1

David Beckham Press Conference part 2

David Beckham Video Press release

Click here to see the Video Press release that was issued to the media on the day the announcement regarding David Beckham's move to the LA Galaxy was announced.

Photos

Since the announcement of the move there has been a big increase in media coverage of David Beckham which has meant a lot more photos of David Beckham at training. As well as an increase in papparazzi coverage of his daily life.

For photos of David Beckham training and watching Real Madrid play check out the weekly gallery.

For photos of David Beckham from his Los Angeles Galaxy Press conference and also screen caps of his interviews check out the Press gallery.

For photos of David Beckham attending a team lunch with Real Madrid players and also doing the school run check out the out and about gallery.

Real Madrid's reaction

Real Madrid's reaction on January 11 was muted. Official notices were published on the club's website. There had been rumors in preceding days that the clubs technical staff did not want David Beckham to renew his contract and that his offer would be withdrawn but it was impossible to know what truth if any lay behind the rumors, as such speculation is common when a club is under-going a run of poor form and bad results as was the case with Real Madrid. However, the reaction from the club seemed designed to emphasise the impression that David Beckham's decision to leave was mutual.

Real Madrid President Ramon Calderon made the following announcement:

We have to thank Beckham for being a gentleman in the four years he has been at Real Madrid,""Beckham's agent told us that they had a very interesting offer and in the end, it has been the best situation for both parties and we must celebrate it."

However, two days later, January 13, Real Madrid Manager, Fabio Capello made the announcement that David Beckham would not be allowed to play again for Real Madrid, despite having five months remaining on his contract. Capello said that a player with an important contract with a new club could not be counted on. He said that David Beckham was a professional but made it implicitly clear that he did not believe David Beckham to be professional enough to still be a reliable member of the team. It was a completely unjustifiable and undeserved slight and to make matters worse David beckham heard the news via the press as he had not been personally informed by Capello. Story here.

Despite Capello's harsh ruling, David beckham attended Real Madrid's match against Zaragoza to cheer on his team-mates. Capello aware that his decision to call time on Beckham was drawing some criticism, told the press on Monday, January 15, that David Beckham had not advised the club about his plans and that he thought this was not right, he also said the decision to exclude Beckham was a joint decsion of the technical staff. Presient Ramon Calderon supported Capello and made a number of allegations in the media which were completley unfounded Story here These lies were in stark contrast to Calderon's inital comments to the Real Madrid website.

David Beckham and his spokesman, Simon Oliveira did not dignify Calderon's comments with a response. However on Tuesday, January 16, the president made further inflammatory comments that insulted the Real Madrid players and supporters and again he singled out David Beckham for further insults and lies. Calderon, did not think his comments would reach a wider audience but that was little excuse, seeing as he was still acting in his official capacity as President. His quotes were broadcast world-wide. The situation had become truly ugly. You can read Calderon's speech here

Barcelona's Manager Frank Rijkaard spoke out in defence of David Beckham's right as a player to have his contract respected. Becks also received vociferous support from team-mates including Ruud Van Nistelrooy, Ivan Helguera and Iker Casillas. The Spanish sports magazine 'As' reported that Real Madrid might have a case to answer under EU law for their behaviour. More details here David Beckham, despite extreme provocation, did not respond to these taunts through the media.

A meeting was called betwen the clubs hierarchy and the players following Calderon's most ill-advised and unprofessional comments. David Beckham seized the opportinity to tell both Pedja Mijatovic and Ramon Calderon to their faces, that he had lost all respect for them. The media was not present at the meeting but these quotes and several others were leaked, full details here. Following this meeting and the publication of articles questioning the legality of Capello's pronouncement that he would not play David Beckham, Capello intimated that their could be some flexibility on this point. Calderon has issued a public apology to David Beckham and all parties that he had insulted. David Beckham is currently carrying a minor injury, so at this juncture it remains to be seen if the club will allow him to play again during the remainder of his contract. However, Real Madrid have reacted to David Beckham's decision and conducted themselves in a way, that brings shame upon those senior members of the club involved and that really can't be undone now.

The announcement

The formal announcement that David Beckham would join the Los Angeles Galaxy a Major League Soccer Team in the US, came on January 11th. In the preceding weeks there had been daily rumors and speculation in the media as to David Beckham's future. Every day a new report would surface about a club that was going to move for Becks. What we knew for sure was that David Beckham had not yet renewed with Real Madrid and from January 1 he had been free to talk to other clubs.

During the 24 hours preceding the formal announcement, there were two stories in the press that perhaps sign-posted what was to come. Firstly the story broke that David Beckham would not renew with real Madrid and would leave the club in the summer. Real Madrid Sporting Director, Pedja Mijatovic, when asked about David Beckham during an interview with Sky Italia, gave an ambiguous and confusing answer. It was interpreted as a clear indication that David beckham would be leaving and was widely reported. Soon after the club and David Beckham's spokesman gave statements to say that a mistake had been made. That what Mijatovic had meant had been "lost in translation". However the story coincided with Real Madrid Manager, Fabio Capello, dropping David Beckham from the squad for mysterious, unexplained "technical reasons". It was also known that David Beckham and his representatives were due to meeting with the club regarding the unrenewed contract, the following day. The Media went on to red alert.

A few minutes after midnight, The Times January 11 issue, hit the internet. Amongst its stories was one that stated that David Beckham would not renew his contract and that at the meeting with Real Madrid scheduled for 1pm that day, he and his advisors would inform the club that he had decided to go and play in the MLS with the LA Galaxy being the most likely destination. The Times had it right.

Shortly after 3PM the announcement came. The ABC, ESPN, Reuters and The BBC were amongst the first to file reports. The BBC item said

BBC -Beckham 'to sign for LA Galaxy'
David Beckham will leave Real Madrid and join Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy at the end of the season, according to Reuters news agency. The 31-year-old former England captain is poised to sign a five-year deal.

David Beckham issued the following written statement

This week, Real Madrid asked me to make a decision regarding my future and the offer to extend my contract by a further two seasons. After discussing several options with my family and advisers to either stay here at Madrid or join other major British and European clubs, I have decided to join the Los Angeles Galaxy and play in the MLS from August this year.

I would like to thank the supporters and people of Madrid who have made my family and I feel so welcome in my time here, making this an extremely difficult decision to make. I have enjoyed my time in Spain enormously and I am extremely grateful to the club for giving me the opportunity to play for such a great team and their amazing fans.

I am proud to have played for two of the biggest clubs in football and I look forward to the new challenge of growing the world's most popular game in a country that is as passionate about its sport as my own.

For the rest of this season I will continue to give 100 percent to my coach, teammates and fans as I believe Fabio Capello will bring this club and its supporters the success they truly deserve.

He also issued a video Press release in which he further outlined the reasons behind his decision (see left hand colum under media).

The press went into a frenzy over the deal one of the biggest contracts in the history of sport. Both The Sun and The Mirror ran huge "Posh and Bucks" headlines the following day. Here is a collection that is by no means exhaustive of some of the better articles that were published during the ensuing media mania.

Press

Headline:Anatomy of a blockbuster
The story behind the Beckham deal and the economics
Source:Sports Illustrated

Headline: Owen Hargreaves Column
Source: The BBC

Headline: Why America will fall in love with Beckham
Source: The Guardian

Headline: Farewell Football, Hello Hollywood
Revealed: How Beckham was forced out
Source: The Times

Headline: Beckham's departure divides Spain
Source: Reuters - also includes video

Headline: Forget all the Glitz and the Glamour, Beckham has gone to America purely for the football
Source: The Guardian - a good article.

Headline: A perfect setting for the final scene of the Beckham family blockbuster
Source: The Guardian - another goodie

Headine: Money not my motive - Beckham
Source: BBC - good recap of the days quotes as well as video and audio

Headline: Deal suits player more than Real
Source: The Telegraph - interesting reading, if like me you are concerned about David Beckham's remaining time at Real Madrid

Headline: After fun and flamboyance, the Real dream turned sour and it was time to cut his losses
Source: The Independent - good retrospective on David Beckham's time at Real Madrid

Headline: Major league plays minor role with an audience that lacks interest
Source: The Times - good overview of the LA Galaxy and MLS, season length, competition structure etc

Headline: Arise Sir David: US Pied Piper is tipped to land knighthood
Source: The Times

Headline: Beckham earns 70,000 a day from biggest deal in history
Source: The Times

Headline: The 250 million dollar man
Source The Telegraph

Headline: Hollywood Calling
Source: The Telegraph

Headline: British media in Beckham cash frenzy
Source: Reuters

Headline: Can Becks spark soccer in the US?
Source: Newsday

Headline: Beckham signing is a no-brainer
Source: ESPN Magazine

Headline: The Beckham's go to Tinseltown
Source: The Sun

Headline: Brunt: Beckham's signing is the next step in the evolution of MLS
Source: The Globe and Mail

Headline: Beckham adds immense star quality to Galaxy
Source: LA Times

Quotes

"Before the game he [Beckham] was in the dressing-room wishing us well. His attitude is always good and caring for the team and the club". Ruud Van Nistelrooy

"Beckham and Ronaldo have proved that they are great professionals and that they will give everything for this shirt". Raul

"He is a great friend and this is another challenge for him. David has always wanted to do things differently and in his own way. He has done it again". Gary Neville

"He is a great player and a great professional and has always given everything for Real Madrid." Iker Casillas

"Deep down he was always a United fan and I don't think there was any chance of him going back to another English club. He has been a terrific player at our club and everyone at our club hopes he does well. We wish him well". Sir Alex Ferguson

"I am sure that, 90 percent of his decision is with the national team. I am sure that if he was still with the England team he wouldn't have done it". Arsene Wenger

"David's move will be the signal for many others to follow him into the American League. They have made their intentions clear that they want top stars to be part of their football. David is still a fantastic pro and will be very excited about the next step of his career". Jonathon Woodgate

"I haven't met him yet, but I might just put him in my next Rambo film and chase him round the jungle for a couple of months". Sly Stallone (I had to put this one in because it's so funny!)

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